The Blanco by Gutmann, Abajo downdraft extraction system sits discreetly in the kitchen worktop; it is space-saving, subtle and stylish.

This system is perfect for open-plan living where sightlines should be kept clear. The Abajo sits flush to the worktop and siphons steam and cooking odours away leaving the room's atmosphere crystal clear.more

Sleek, ultra-slim and brand new Evolve solid core worksurfaces from Bushboard bring an inspired quality to kitchen design. Made from a 100% solid core laminate which is just 12.5mm thick, the new surfaces come in a choice of 15 dual-faced, contemporary designs and feature five complementary core colours - white, cream, light grey, dark grey and extra black.more

Storm Grey is the latest finish to be introduced to the ever-popular Crosswater Svelte bathroom furniture collection. Renowned for its sleek curves and superior functionality, Svelte is an ideal choice for the design-conscious homeowner.more

Responding to key trends in interior design, Rangemaster has launched two new kitchen taps to join its extensive collection. The new 'Estuary' and 'Intense' models both share elegant swan-neck designs in a dual-lever monobloc configuration.more

VitrA has announced the launch of a strategic new product portfolio, Signature Collection. Available to eligible retailers, Signature Collection includes new products, a refreshed design to Shift - an existing range, and the inclusion of mineralcast basin options.

The award-winning shower toilet; V-care Essential, is also included to provide retail partners with a competitively priced solution in this rapidly growing market segment. more

Over 12 million tonnes of plastic enter the sea each year, which has a devastating impact on animals and the environment, and while many of us consciously try to limit the amount of plastic we use, we all end up with some plastic waste, which makes recycling at home a key priority.more

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Transport Focus has released its 2018 report into the best and worst of England's 111 motorway services, following its survey of 9,600 motorists on their experiences. One purpose of the survey was to identify which aspects of the visitor experience most influence overall satisfaction and of course washroom facilities and their cleanliness have had a big impact, bearing in mind that the vast majority of respondents cited the need to visit the toilet as the main reason for visiting services in the first place, since the fuel is prohibitively expensive.

The reason I mention this, is that the independent transport user watchdog carried out its first large-scale survey in 2017 and has compared this year's results with those findings, identifying which facilities listened to their customers and made improvements. Those that made improvements have seen a massive rise in rankings.

Motorway services areas need to make money; the more visitors they have, the more money they're likely to make. Almost half of the survey's respondents (45%) said they plan beforehand to stop at a particular services, which shows that there's no room for complacency with regard to the facilities.

When it came to the quality of fixtures, only 50% said they were very happy both years; 33% said they were fairly happy in 2017 and in 2018 this figure had dropped to 31%.

That's not really very good, is it? Clearly, refurbishment is called for in some of these establishments if they're going to continue to attract visitors.

I know you may be involved in the manufacture and supply of high end bathroom products, but even if you are, just imagine being able to market them by having hundreds of thousands of customers use them every year, who may like what they see and remember your brand when they come to refurbish their own hotels, pubs, restaurants etc, as well as their homes! I'm not just talking toilets, basins and furniture, but showers for long distance drivers and facilities for the disabled, too.

"Toilets rated highly for cleanliness and the number available, but the quality of fixtures scores somewhat lower," said Jeff Halliwell, chair, of Transport Focus. "However, there were plenty of comments noting and appreciating where improvement works had been carried out and new facilities provided. Investment is recognised and welcomed." Knowing you can help these facilities make money while advertising your brand, surely warrants a phone call or few then?

Hotpoint is on a mission to help the nation reduce food waste at home. Following the launch of the 'Fresh Thinking for Forgotten Food' campaign, Hotpoint is touring the country with its Fresh Thinking Mobile Kitchen Roadshow.

From the end of July, the Hotpoint Fresh Thinking Mobile Kitchen has showcased simple and effective tips that help to reduce and prevent food waste. Pitching-up at five different locations across the UK, Hotpoint has been demonstrating recipes that utilise ingredients that are wasted the most in the UK. These include bread, dairy items and fruit and vegetables.more

Think traditional kitchen design and brass and ceramic are two materials that instantly spring to mind and the latest products from Abode combine both for a modern twist that turns the sink and tap into a stand-out feature.more

Some children dream of being astronauts, explorers or artists. From a young age, Jean Pierre Pastor knew he wanted to be a chef. Inspired by his mother's great cooking, he cultivated a passion for food early in life and ultimately realised his dream: opening his first restaurant in 2000, La Fata Bema.

Jean Pierre opened his latest destination, Meltemi, in Northern Italy in early 2016. Named after and inspired by the northern winds of the Aegean Sea, there he sets himself apart from the local competition by offering a menu comprised strictly of seafood dishes. A contrast to traditional cuisine of Parma, which is very meat and dairy heavy, his playfully unusual offering has been welcomed in the area.more

At this year's London Design Festival, Laufen presents 'Dim Sum' at the Kartell flagship store in Knightsbridge. The artistic, collaborative installation between Laufen and Kartell, in the heart of the Brompton Design District, follows its debut at Milan Design Week earlier this year.

Ludovica + Roberto Palomba, the creative minds of the Kartell by Laufen project, continue their experimentation and innovation in the bathroom sector. Kartell by Laufen will be presenting an engaging, exploratory and conceptual exercise on washbasins that combines design and research, as part of this year's Festival.more

Bold and bright or discreet and understated. Whatever the style, sales of feature floor tiles are on the up and outselling plain floor tiles, according to British Ceramic Tile.

The brand has reported a 70% sales increase of patterned floor tile in retail channels over the last year (2017 to 2018) with its feature floor and designer collections proving a surefire hit with consumers. more

Adding an extra bathroom to an average-sized home in the UK can add 5% or around £15,000 to its value and thanks to bathroom specialist Roper Rhodes' space-saving bathroom furniture and sanitaryware, it's never been easier to create a stylish and functional cloakroom or en suite.

Compact, wall hung sanitaryware can help create the illusion of a larger space. The versatile Note sanitaryware range includes a compact 450mm basin, which can be wall hung with a chrome bottle trap, making it the perfect choice for cloakrooms or en suites.more

Hoover new AXI dishwasher, follows the successful release of the AXI washing machine, which in June, marked the beginning of Hoover's next generation of domestic appliances complete with Artificial Intelligence.

Boasting 16 place settings and A+++ energy credentials, it has a host of user-friendly features, combined with AI, make it a truly innovative addition to the market.more

A grey kitchen will never be boring with the enticing range of new colours from Masterclass Kitchens, designed to be mixed & matched with a variety of vibrant shades to create a space that is full of character.

Available on many of the company's best-selling ranges, including Hampton, Marlborough and Roma, Farringdon Grey is a subtle shade of grey that acts as a neutral canvas to be combined with a wide choice of colours and materials.more

Mereway sales & marketing director Graham Jones (pictured) has left the company after seven years in the role working alongside Bob and Richard Norris.

Richard Norris, joint managing director at Mereway wished Graham well as he continues in his career and thanked him for his contribution in helping to make Mereway one of the foremost suppliers to the independent kitchen, bathroom and bedroom studio market.more

With sinks and taps being the perfect pairing and so often purchased together, Abode has made it easier than ever for retailers to maximise on sales and extend profit margins, with the launch of a dedicated sink and tap packs brochure.

Offering retailers significant savings on pack pricing compared to purchasing separately, the literature includes a comprehensive range of Abode sinks, which features a wide range of undermount and inset options.more

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The Freight Transport Association, the largest and most influential business organisation in the logistics sector, has launched a new series of events - the International Road Transport Operator Conferences 2018 - to help operators understand and adapt to the changing international regulatory landscape for road haulage.more

The Bathroom Manufacturers Association has sponsored a new award designed to recognise innovation and initiatives that promote consumer safety through compliance in bathroom products and installation.more

Saniflo UK - the country's leading designer and manufacturer of pumps, macerators and shower cubicles - is offering showrooms free fitting and product training with their first Kinedo Kinemagic display. more

Total Builders Merchant value sales were up 6.9% in May compared with May last year. Five categories did better, with Plumbing Heating & Electrical (11.9%) the top performer and Landscaping (+11.3%), Timber & Joinery Products (+8.2%) and Kitchens & Bathrooms (7.1%) also stronger. Heavy Building Materials, the largest category, grew more slowly (+5.1%) and only Workwear & Safetywear sold less (-5.3%).more